Machine for feeding and collecting sheets of paper or the like



.July 5, 1932. J. H. ELWELL 1,855,750

MACHINE FOR FEEDING AND COLLECTING SHEETS OF PAPER OR THE LIKE FiledNov. 5, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet l 3 J. H. ELWELL July 5, 1932.

MACHINE FOR FEEDING AND COLLECTINGSHEETS OF PAPER OR" THE LIKE FiledNov. 5, 19 50 8 Sheetsfiheet 2 J. H. ELWELL July 5, 1932.

MACHINE FOR FEEDING AND COLLECTING SHEETS OF PAPER OR THE LIKE FiledNov. 5, 1930 8 Sheets-Shept 3 July 5, 1932. J. H. ELWELLY 1,865,750.

MACHINE FOR FEEDING AND COLLECTING SHEETS OF PAPER OR THE LIKE FiledNov. 5, 1930 8 Sheet-Sheet 4 J. H. ELWELL July 5, 1932.

MACHINE FOR FEEDING AND COLLECTING SHEETS OF PAPER OR THE LIKE FiledNov. 5, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 5, 1932. J. H. ELWELL MACHINE FORFEEDING AND COLLECTING SHEETS OF PAPER OR THE LIKE 8 Sheets-Sheet 6Filed Nov. 5. 1930 MWAR July 5, 1932. .1. H. ELWELL MACHINE FOR FEEDINGAND COLLECTING SHEETS OF PAPER OR THE LIKE 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Nov.5, 1930 kmk .3 q 7/ y J. H. ELWELL 1,865,750

MACHINEFOR FEEDING AND COLLECTING SHEETS OF PAPER OR THE LIKE Filed Nov.5; 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented July 5, 193a 1,865,750

series JAY H. ELVJELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T SOL D. GOLBY, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS MACHINE FOR FEEDING AND COLLECTING SHEETS OF IPAPE ROR THE LIKE Application filed November 5, 1930. Serial No. 493,505.

This invention relates to machines for The invention also relates to themeans for feeding and collecting sheets of paper or the operating thevarious instrumentahties in like, timed relationship to one another 1nthe The present invention is intended prlaccomplishment of theirrespective funca marily as a machine for feeding and collecttions, andto the machine as a whole and the 55 ing sheets of paper into groupspreparatory constituent portions thereof. to their folding and insertloninto envelopes In the drawings:

for mailing purposes. Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine as Althoughthe details of the present lnvena whole; 19 tion are confined to thefeeding and collect- Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken on line soing department of the machine, it may be 22 of Fig. 1; used for otherpurposes than that for which Figs. 3 and 4: are complementary views itwas particularly designed. taken on line 38 of Fig. 1;

The object'of the present invention is to Figs. 5 and 6 are detailedviews of the i produce a machine of relatively simple and feedingmechanism for engaging and with- 65 compact construction, in whichprovision is drawing the uppermost sheet from the stack, made for thesimultaneous withdrawal of showing the mechanism in two positions ofsheets from several stacks by feeding mechamovement;

v nism of unified construction which coacts Fig. 7 is a detail of thechain mechanism with the several stacks. and carrier for transportingand accumulat 76 The sheets of paper, cards or the like, thus ing thesheets fed from the stacks; withdrawn, are delivered to arunway, where Fig. 8 is a detail of the rake prongs for enthey are collected into theform of superposed gaging and accumulating the sheets; layerspreparatory to delivery from the Fig. 9 is a detail showing severalforms of present machine. The sheets or cards in sheets accumulated asan insert into a mail column form may be delivered to a folding ingenvelope or package; ano stuiiing machine, or any other machine Fig. 10'is a detail of one of the presser feet or instrumentality desi ned todeal with for engaging the paper sheets;

sheets of paper or cards in superposed form. Fig. 11 is a series ofdiagrammatic views The present invention relates to the mechillustratingthe method of maintaining uni- 80 anism for simultaneously separatingthe formity of the top level of the several stacks uppermost sheet fromeach of the several during progressive feeding and irrespective alignedstacks; of variations in the thickness of the individ- To themechanismfor restraining the dis- .ual sheets composing the respectivestacks;

35 placement of underlying sheets while the and I uppermost sheet isbeing withdrawn; Fig. 12 is a sectional detail of one of the To themechanism for maintaining an uppresser feet and clamping blocks. wardfeeding pressure on each of the several The machine as a whole comprisesa suitcolumns of sheets or inserts so constructed able framework whichin the form shown iu D and arranged as to momentarily relieve the eludesan upper front rail 20, a lower front pressure in order to permitwithdrawal of rail. 21, and a base portion 22. The front the uppermostsheet from each of the stacks; rails are connected by vertical posts 23which To the means for clamping and transportspring upwardly from thebase. ing the sheets withdrawn from the stacks and The rear operatingportion of the mecha- 45 delivering the same in procession form to anism is supported upon longitudinally eX- runway; and tending rails 24and 25 which are supported To the mechanism provided for operating fromuprights 26, the upper ends of which through the runway to accumulatethe sheets merge into cross bars 27, the construction into superposedrelation in the form of a being duplicated at each end of the machine.

50 stack or column. The particular construction of the frame.- 109 workis not deemed essential, since any adequate structure may be employedwhich is capable of providing support for the operating portions of themachine.

Above the rail 24 is a longitudinally extending rail 28, which supportsa series of brackets 29 which abut against and furnish support for aninner vertical wall 30, the lower edge of which rests upon the innerrail 2A1. This wall constitutes the forward side of the space allottedto the respective stacks of sheets, which are arranged in alignment fromone end of the machine to the other.

As shown, the machine makes provision for feeding from four stacks,although obviously the same mechanism may be employed for feeding fromtwo, three or any other number of stacks, depending upon the number ofsheets which it is desired to handle.

Immediately behind the wall 30 are ar ranged a plurality of movableplatforms 31, one for each of the columns of sheets, but in view of thefact that the construction and arrangement of these platforms and of themechanism for operating the same is simply multiplied, a description ofone of these mechanisms will suffice for all. Each platform is providedwith and mounted upon a stem 32 which is surrounded by a coil spring 33bearing at its lower end against a coneshaped standard 34: carried by abracket member 35, the arrangement being such that the spring willconstantly exert a lifting pressure upon the platform, the range of thespring action being sufficient to intermittently lift the platform aftereach delivery of a sheet until. the column of sheets has been exhausted.In other words, the range of spring action must be at least commensuratewith the height of the column of sheets.

The stem 32 extends through the standard 34 and through the bracket 35,and is adapted to be gripped by oppositely disposed rollers 36 (see Fig.4:), each of which is eccentrically mounted upon a pin 37 carriedbetween the walls 38 of a frame which depends below the base of thebracket 35. Each of the eccentrically mounted rollers 36 has rigidlysecured thereto an outwardly extending arm 39, and each of the arms haspivoted thereto a link 40 provided with a slot 41 at its lower end,which receives a pin 42 outwardly extending from an arm 43 rearwardlyextending from a rock shaft 4:4: suitably mounted on journals 45.

A rocking action is imparted to the rock shaft by means of an arm atwhich is rigid therewith and which in turn is pivoted to a link f? whichconnects with a cam arm 4:8 pivoted at its lower end 49 and mountin aroller 50 which rides upon a cam 51 mounted upon a cam shaft 52. Theroller 50 is held in contact with the cam by a spring 53.

The frame walls 38 are arched upwardly at 38a and each is provided withan upwardly extending pin 38?) which carries a collar 380 bearingagainst a coil spring 3801, ter encircles a tube 386 through which theassociated pin extends, so that the tubes 38@ will act as stops to limitthe downward movementof the frame which carries the rollers 36.

The arrangement is such that when a downward movement is imparted to thelinks 40 through the cam and connections just described, the rollers 36will be rocked on their eccentric mountings and caused to bite againstand clamp the stem 32 of the associated platform, so that thereafter acontinued downward movement of the links 40 will draw down the platformagainst the tension of the coil spring 33, until the collars 38c contactthe tubular stops 386, which limits the extent of the downward movement.However, it is desirable as a safety factor to afford an excess ofmovement to the pin 42 on the arm 4&3 which is normally held inengagement with the upper end of the slot 41 by the action of a heavyspring 4.2a which will be tensioned after the movement of the platformhas been arrested by contact of the collars 380 with the tubular stops.

This platform movement, which is slight in extent, serves to momentarilyrelieve the pressure exerted upon the stock of sheets supported upon theplatform, so that the uppermost sheet may be withdrawn from the top ofthe stack. As soon as the upper sheet is withdrawn, in the cycle ofoperations, the-clamping action of the rollers 36 is released, and thestem is then free to spring upwardly under spring tension to againcompress the stack and at the same time this upward movement in eachinstance will be sufficient to not only restore the movement occasionedby the drawing down of the platform, but also to advance upwardly to adegree suflicient to compensate for the decreased height of the stackoccasioned by the withdrawal of a sheet from the top. In this way theplatform will progressively follow upward as the stack is concurrentlydepleted, and maintain an adequate pressure on the stack at all times tohold the uppermost sheet at the feeding plane.

Feeding mechanism The uppermost sheet of each stack is forced upwardlyinto contact along its front edge with a pair of spaced depending gaugebars 54, and the column is guided on each side by vertically disposedguide bars 55 between which the platform rides in elevating the stack.The uppermost portion of the stack is gauged along the rear edges of thesheets by contact with fingers 56 which are adjustable along forwardlyextending bars 57 carried by a fixed rail 58, so that, irrespective ofits depth from front to rear, the stack can be properly positioned tobring the front edges of the respective sheets into butting contact withthe wall 30, which properly gauges the which latstack and holds thefront edges of the sheets in proper feeding position. In addition to theabove gauge members,the rear upper edge of the stack is adapted to becontacted by fingers 59, each of which carries a rubber tip to afford afirm contact with the uppermost sheet.

Each of the fingers 59 is adjustably mounted within a head 61 rigidlymountec upon a rock shaft 62, which rock shaft carries a bail 63 adaptedto be contacted at the proper moment to elevate the finger tips 60against the tension of a spring 6-4 which connects with an arm 64a whichnormally engages the stop pin 6%. In addition to the universal action ofthe spring 6%, each of the fingers is urged downwardly against theparticular stack with which it engages by the action of a small spring6&0, so that any deficiency in movement of the rock shaft by contact ofone of the fingers with the top sheet of a stack of somewhat stiff orincompressible sheets of material, will be compensated for by a slightadditional movement imparted to the other fingers by the individualsprings 640, so that the uppermost sheets of each of the stacks will beadequatelycompressed near the rear edges thereof. The arrangementprovides for a momentary release of the uppermost sheets of therespective stacks durin the interval of withdrawal.

The withdrawal from each stack is effected by me operation of a shoe 65provided with a sponge rubber sole 66 adapted to contact the uppermostsheet near its forward edge. Each of the shoes is carried by a de:pending stem 67, which is guided for reciprocating movement within therails 68 and 69 of a frame 70, one frame being provided for each of theshoes, and all of the frames being hung from and rigidly secured to auniversal bar ?1 provided at its ends with guide heads 7272 which rideupon rails 73- 13 which stand at opposite ends of the machine and aresupported between pairs of front and rear standards 7a and 75.

The arrangement is one which permits the universal bar 71 to travelforward and back across the machine and carry with it all of the shoescomposin the entire group, so that, when all of the stacks are beingoperated upon, in the embodiment shown, four sheets will besimultaneously WiClIdFZLWD, one from each of the four stacks, and thesheets thus withdrawn will be simultaneously transported to the forwardside of the machine and deposited in processional arrangement one inadvance of the other from end to end of the machine. 7

The upper end of each of the stems 6'? carries a pair of oppositelydisposed rollers 76-7 6. One of the rollers76 is positioned to ride,during the rearward movement of the universal bar, upon a cam trackway77 hinged at 77 to an adjacent portion of the frame, and the otherroller is positioned to ride backward upon a fixed cam trackway 77*,which is located at a somewhat lower level than the hinged cam trackway77.

The arrangement constitutes a switchback which permits each of the shoestems to be elevated to a relatively high level against spring tensionon the rearward movement until the end of the associated hinged camtrack is reached, at which point the roller will suddenly escape fromthe terminus of the hinged cam track, and the shoe will drop downwardlyto engage the uppermost or ex: posed sheet on the stack.

On the rearward movement, the other roller will ride upon the fixed camtrack and the shoe will maintain a lower position (see Fig.

'6) until the end of the fixed track is reached,

during which time the companion roller will be at a proper elevation tolift the forward end of the pivoted cam track, which latter will beelevated during the forward movement of the shoe by contact of theassociated roller with its under surface.

Motion is imparted to the universal bar 71 by means of a link 78 whichis bifurcated at its forward end 7 9 and hinged upon a pintle 80 carriedby the universal bar, as shown in Fig. l. The rear end of the link 78 ispivoted to a swinging arm 81, the lower end of which is pivoted to aplate 82 secured to the framework of the machine, and the swinging arm81 has pivoted thereto a link 83 which in turn is pivoted to a cam arm84 of .l-shaped formation, which is pivoted at the center of its baseupon a pivot pin 85, and is provided at its forward end with a roller 86which engages a cam 87 mounted upon the cam shaft. This serves to imparta forward movement to the linkage which connects with the universal bar,but the rearward movement is provided for by a pear-shaped cam 88 whichat the proper time engages the inner or forward side of the cam arm 84to impart a rearward swinging movement to the cam arm, the cams 87 and88 being properly configured to thus act in succession and to afford thenecessary clearances to provide for the respective novements withoutinterference.

The frame 70 of each shoe is provided near its base with a short rockshaft 89 which carries a clamping block 90 which is urged upwardly bythe action of a sprin 91 which encircles the rock shaft, with the resultthat, when free to act, the clamping block will be swung upwardly intoclamping position, as illustrated in Fig. 6.

The clamping block 90 is provided with a rubber insert 92 for contactwith the lower marginal edge of a sheet of paper, so that when in thisposition. the paper will be clamped between the rubber sole 66 of theshoe and the rubber insert 92 for withdrawal.

The clamping block is provided with a rearwardly extending heel 93provided with a beveled edge Set which is adapted, when the clampingblock is swung downwardly, as in Fig. 5, cam pasta latcn stem which isdownwz rdly urged by a spring 96, with the result when the heel 93 hasbeen swung past the latch stem, the latter will spring downwardly tohold the clamping block in open position.

The latch stem 95 extends upwardly through the lower cross wall of theshoe frame 70, and its upper end 9? is turned outward in the form of afinger through a slot 98 in the side wall of the shoe frame 70 (see Fig.10).

WVhen the universal bar 71 bearing the shoe frames moves to the rear,the shoes will be elevated by the rolling of the rollers 76 along thehinged cam traclrways 77, and the relation of the parts will be suchthat the shoes will be sufliciently elevated, as in Fig. 5, to carryeach linger 97 above the upper edge of the associated stop fingers 99which extend forwardly from the proximate gauge bar 54:, and at the sametime the springs for the stem 67 of the associated shoes will act todepress the shoes and maintain a clamping pressure against the uppersheet of the stack.

As a result of this correlation of the parts, as each shoe approachesthe paper stack, and as it is released and bears downwardly by theaction of its spring while the latch stem is restrained againstcorresponding movement, he heel of the clamping block will be releasedfrom latching engagement with the latch stem, but the latch block is notfree to swing upwardly in closed position on account of its instantcontact with a movable gate bar 100 (see Fig. 5), which in this positionof adjustment stands across the front of the paper stack near the upperedge thereof, and affords an abutment for holding the respectiveclamping blocks in open or depending position.

As the shoe begins to move forward 6), the upper end 97 of the latchstem will escape the confinement of the stop finger 99, and at the sametime the clamping block will begin to swing upwardly past the forwardedge of the gate bar 100, so that it will immediately thereafter springup into biting or clamping relation against the under edge of the papersheet, as in Fig. 0, and this adjust ment will continue while the papersheet is being withdrawn. At the forward terminus of the movement, anarm 101 (see Fig. 10) which is formed on the end of the rock shaft 89will come into contact with a stop finger 102 (see Fig. 1) whichintercepts its path of movement and will have the efiect of swingingdown the clamping block into depending or open position and causing thebeveled heel of the clamping bloclr to cam past the end of theassociated latch stem, which latches the clamping block in its openposition preparatory to the next rearward movement of the shoe. Thisopening movement, of course, releases the paper sheet.

The gate bar 100 is provided with forwardly extending ears 103 which areslidably mounted on vertical guide rods 104:

rigidly secured to lugs 105 secured to the frame of the machine, and thegate bar is urged upwardly by coil springs 106 which encircle the guiderods 104:. As the shoe moves rearwardly toward the stack and is releasedfrom its elevated position on the cam trackway 77, the gate bar will bedepressed by contact of an adjustable screw 107 with one of the lugs 103of the gate bar (see Fig. 6), from its elevated position, as shown in Fi6, to its lower position, as shown in Fig. 5.

The screw 107 should be adjusted so as to bring the upper rim or edge ofthe gate bar slightly below the upper surface of the stack (see Fig. 5),which affords a slot at 108 for the withdrawal of a single sheet fromthe top of the stack. The upper rear margin of the gate bar is beveledat'109, which facilitates the release and withdrawal of the uppermostsheet (see Fig. 6), and at the same time interposes a barrier againstthe withdrawal of the underlying sheets, which,however, maybe draggedforward slightly to abut against the beveled surface 109, but willafterwards be restored to exact vertical plane as the gate bar springsupwardly under spring pressure after its release by the ad ustable screw107.

The screw 10? should be adjusted so as to bring the upper ring or edgeof the gate bar either in flush relation with or slightly below theupper surface of the stack (see Fig. 5), which latter adjustment affordsa slot at 108 for the withdrawal of a single sheet from the top of thestack. Where very thin paper sheets are being fed, it suffices to makean adjustment which will bring the upper rim of the gate bar into lightcontact with the surface of the rubber shoe, which. being formed ofsponge rubber, will compress sufiiciently when brought in contact withthe upper surface of the thin sheet to permit the latter to be withdrawnover the gate bar without affording a slot for its removal.

The upper rear margin of the gate bar is beveled at 109 whichfacilitates the release and withdrawal of the uppermost sheet see Fig.6) and at the same time it imposes a barrier against the withdrawal theunderlying sheets which, however, may be dragged forward slightly toabut against a beveled surface 109 during the feeding of the uppermostsheet, but will afterwards be restored as the gate bar springs upwardlyunder spring pressure after it is released by the adjustable screw 107.This restoring action is supplemented by the provision of fingers 109awhich project rearwardly from each of the shoe frames (see 10) and whichon their rearward movement of the shoes will H, sociated gate bar.

. In View of the fact that he space between the sole of the shoe and thegate bar is exactly gauged by an adjustment of the screw 107, it isevident that but a single sheet will be extracted from each stack andclamped as the universal bar begins its forward movement.-

Accumulating mechanism 113 to the space beneath, as best indicated inFig. 7. Immediately below the slatted floors is located a longitudinallyextending carrier consisting of two endless chains 114 in spacedrelation to one another, which chains, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4,are

mounted on idle sprockets 115 and 116, at opposite ends of the machine.

The sprockets 116 (see F ig. 2) are mounted upon a sprocket shaft 117,which is power driven by means of a sprocket chain 118 passing over asprocket wheel 119 on the sprocket shaft 117 and over a sprocket wheel120 on a driving shaft 121, which extends from front to rear of themachine, and as shown is provided with a pulley 122 carrying a belt 123which is driven by a motor 124. Suitable means are afforded the sprocketchains to maintain the upper turns in level relation by the provision ofaligned idle sprocket wheels 125125 (see Fig. 2).

Proper tension is maintained on the driving sprocket chain 118 by theprovision of an idle sprocket 126.

Corresponding links in the endless carrier chains 11% serve as amounting for cross slats 127 which stand in closely spaced relation toone another and serve as mountings each for a plurality of alignedC-shaped bracket fingers 128, the upper turns of which slightly overlapone another when the slats 127 occupy the upper run in their orbit oftravel (see Fig. 7), so that the brackets in unison constitute rows ofcarriers operating between the bars constituting the slatted floors, andpresenting their surfaces in substantially flush relation with thesurfaces of the bars composing the floors. This arrangement affords asubstantially continuous. surface for the reception of the sheets, andpermits them to be accumulated in the form of a stack as the carrieradvances toward the discharge end of the machine.

At the rear of the series of slat-s 127 is located a rock shaft 129provided with a series of upstanding prongs 130 which are urgedforwardly by springs 131, and the prongs in unison constitute a rake,the prongs or tines of which are adapted to work between the bars 110constituting the slatted floors in the accumulation of the paper sheets.As the prongs approach the left or delivery end of the machine, they aretilted backwardly by contact of a crank arm 132 formed on the end of therock shaft 129, with a curved cam surface 133 located at the forward endof the machine and within the path of movement of the crank arm. Thisenables the prongs to clear a delivery table 1341 at the discharge endof the machine. Suitable gearing and connections are provided fordriving the cam shaft 52 at a speed commensurate with the travel of theendless conveyor, but it is not deemed necessary to describe such powertransmission elements in detail.

Operation In operation, one or more of the stack platforms are loadedwith columns of sheets, which may be in the form of inserts of varioussizes intended for enclosure as a group in a mailing envelope orpackage. The platforms are each depressed to the required degree topermit the columns of sheets to be positioned and vertically aligned,after which the machine is ready for operation. Each of the platformswill be forced upwardly to bring the surface of the stack supportedthereby in contact with the gauge bars, which limit the upward travel ofthe top of the stack so that all of the upper sheets will stand in thesame plane.

As the machine begins to operate, the universal bar carrying the feedingshoes will move to the rear and in elevated relation by contact of therollers with the respective pivoted cam tracks, and as the shoesapproach the termini of the respective tracks, the upward pressure ofeach of the stacks will be momentarily relieved by the drawing down ofthe respective platforms, so that as the feeding shoes drop intoposition to engage the uppermost sheets, the latter will be free to slipforward as the shoes begin their return movement.

The friction of therubber soled shoes will drag forward a sheet fromeach of the stacks, and these will pass over the respective gate barswhile the latter are still in their lowered position to afford space forthe with drawal of the sheets. As the sheets are drawn forwardly, thegate bars will be released, as in Fig. 6, and will move upwardly underthe advancingsheets,which will be bowed upwardly and drawn over theobstruction thus interposed, which, however, will realign the underlyingsheets and prevent any considerable displacement thereof. Slightlybefore the final upward movement of the gate bars, and while the solesof the shoes still overlie the respective stacks, the clamping blockswill be released and sprung upwardly into clamping relation to therespective shoes with which they are associated, so that the group ofsheets ill be positively gripped and carried forward over the slattedfloors until the forward edges of the sheets are brought into contactwith stripper bars or plates 135, one for each stack, which plates aresupported from riders 136 adjustably mounted on rails 112, which permitsthe point of deposit to be properly gauged for each of the sheetscomposing the intended group.

The fingers 102 are also carried by the same riders which support thestripper bars, so that the two devices will be adjusted in unison, withthe result that in each instance the clamping blocx 90 will swung downto re leasing position at the instant the edge of the paper encountersthe stripper bar, so that the point of deposit will be exactlymaintained for each sheet. In addition to the stripper bars, the spaceallotted in each instance to the respective sheets can be adj usted bythe provision of a rear gauge bar 138 (see Fi g. 5) which fits upon aselected one of the bars composing the slatted floor and serves tosupport a rear wall for defining the space allotted for the reception ofthe delivered sheets.

In Fig. 1, it will be noted that the two right hand stacks are composedof sheets of full length from front to rear, while the two left handstacks are composed of narrow sheets, and it will also be noted that therear gauge bars 138 in the latter instance are adjusted comparativelyclose to the front of the machine, which arrangement serves to properlyalign the respective sheets preparatory to their accumulation insuperposed relation.

As soon as the set of sheets has been thus aligned, the movement of theendless chain conveyors will bring the slatted section with theupstanding brackets into position immediately adjacent to the firstsheet of the series (at the right in Fig. l), and the prongs 130 willsweep through the spaces between the bars composing the first slattedfloor and carry forward the first sheet, which as it advances will dipor be forced down, as in Fig. 7, and slide under the next succeedingslatted floor and through the throated space 118, so that it willimmediately underlie the next succeeding sheet of the series as thelatter is en aged by the times and shoved forward,

with the result that before the delivery end of the machine is reached,all of the sheets will lie superposed and in abutting relation at theirright hand edges with the tines, and in this condition be delivered ontothe discharge table 13 1, for folding or other desired manipulation.

It will thus be seen that by suitably adjusting the present machine,groups of sheets, each group having the sheets uniformly arranged in theintended relation to one another, will be accumulated and delivered, theonly limitation in the manner of deposit being that the rear edges ofthe sheets which are contacted by the prongs will stand in even relationto one another.

It frequently happens that in the feeding and accumulating of sheets forinsertion into envelopes, some of the inserts will be thicker thanothers, but this inequality in thickness can be easily compensated forby regulating the gap or space afforded between the respective gate barsand the feeding shoe, so that in each instance a space equal to orslightly less than the thickness of a single sheet will be afforded.Furthermore, the same inequality in the thickness of sheets will bereflected in the height of the respective stacks, but the feedingarrangement provided will constantly maintain the uppermost sheets atthe same feeding level, so that a single universal bar carrying aplurality of feeding shoes may operate upon a plurality of stacks.

The invention is one which insures precision not only in thesimultaneous feeding of sheets but also in the accumulation of thesheets in definitely stacked or superposed arrangement to one another.lhe release of the uppermost sheet will be permitted by the momentarylifting of the rubber tipped fingers 59 at the instant the sheet iscontacted by the rubber sole of the shoe, but as soon as the uppermostsheet has been partially withdrawn, the rubber tipped fingers 59 willagain descend and contact the underlying sheets of the stack, so thatdisplacement will be prevented.

The arrangement is one which insures a constant order in stackingarrangement throughout the entire period of delivery and until the stackhas been completely exhausted.

Although the invention has been described with particularity as todetail, it is not the intention to limit the invention strictly to theconstruction shown and described by way of exemplification, sincenumerous variations thereof may be introduced without departing from thespirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of platforms adaptedrespectively to each carry a stack of sheets, means for elevating therespective platforms for maintaining the uppermost sheets at theintended feeding line, and a universal member carrying a plurality offeeding members adapted each to engage and Withdraw the uppermost sheetof one of the stacks, said universal m .abcr being movable to Withdrawthe sheets ongaged by the respective feeding members, and means forreleasing the respective sheets,

receiving means for supporting the releasedsheets in processionalrelation, and an accu mulating member movable with relation to thereceiving means for successively gaging the deposited sheets andaccumula in superposed relation.

2. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of platforms adaptedrespectively to each carry a stack of sheets, means for elevating therespective platforms for maintaining the uppermost sheets at theintended feeding line, and a universal member carrying a plurality offeeding members adapted each to engage and Withdraw the uppermost sheetof one of the stacks, said universal memher being movable to Withdrawthe sheets engaged by the respective feeding members, and means forreleasing the respective sheets, receiving means for the released sheetsin the form of a plurality of slatted floors in aligned relation to oneanother, one floor for each of the stacks, and accumulating meansmovable through the slatted floors and adapted to engage and accumulatethe sheets into superposed relation.

3. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of platforms adaptedrespectively to each carry a stack of sheets, means for elevating therespective platforms for maintaining the uppermost sheets at theintended feeding line, and a universal member carrying a plurality offeeding members adapted each to engage and Withdraw the uppermost sheetof one of the stacks, said universal member being movable to Withdrawthe sheets engaged by the respective feeding members, and means forreleasing the respective sheets, receiving means in the form of a seriesof slatted floors in aligned relation to one another and each beingconfigured to divert a sheet oncoming from behind to a position beneaththe floor, and accumulating means provided With prongs operating throughthe slatted floors and adapted to suecessively engage and sweep forwardthe de posited sheets to accumulate the same in superposed relation.

4. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of platforms adaptedrespectively to each carry a stack of sheets, means for elevating therespective platforms for maintaining the uppermost sheets the intendedfeeding line, and a universal member carrying a plurality of feedingmembers adapted each to engage and Withdraw the uppermost sheet of oneof the stacks, said universal member being movable to Withdraw thesheets engaged by the respective feeding members,

and means for releasing the respective sheets, a plurality of slat-tedfloors, one for each of the stacks, positloned to receive sheetsdeposited thereonto, an endless traveling member provided in part With aslatted surface elevating the respective platforms for main- W tainingthe uppermost sheets at the intended feedin line, and a universal membercarrying a plurality of feeding members adapted each to engage andWithdraw the uppermost sheet of one of the stacks, said universal Imember being movable to Withdraw the sheets engaged by the respectivefeeding members, and means for releasing the respective sheets, aplurality of slatted floors, one for each of the stacks, positioned toreceive sheets deposited thereonto, an endless traveling member providedin part With a slatted surface and provided with an accumulating memberhaving prongs adapted to Work through the slatted floors and sweeptogether the deposited sheets into superposed relation and deliver themas a group, and means for depressing the prongs after each delivery of agroup of sheets.

6. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of platforms adaptedrespectively to each carry a stack of sheets, means. for elevating therespective platforms for maintaining the uppermost sheets at theintended feeding line, and a universal member carrying a plurality offeeding members adapted each to engage and Withdraw the uppermost sheetof one of the stacks, said universal member being movable to Withdrawthe sheets engaged by the respective feeding members, and means forreleasing the respective sheets, a plurality of slatted floors, one foreach of the stacks, positioned to each receive sheets when released,each of the floors being configured to discharge sheets therefrombeneath the next succeeding floor, and movable means adapted to sweepthrough the slatted floors to engage the sheets supported thereon andaccumulate them into superposed relation.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means forsupporting the sheet in column formation and upwardly feeding the columnto present the top sheet at the intended feeding position, means forengaging and Withdrawing the uppermost sheet of the column and carryingit to a posltion beyond the column, means for insuring the release ofthe sheet after it, has been carried forward, means for supporting thesheet after release, and a movable device opcrating in conjunction withsaid supporting means for ngaging and shoving forward the depositedsheets.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means forindividually supporting each stack of a plurality of stacks of sheetsand successively bringing the uppermost sheet of each stack to theintended. feeding position, means for simultaneously engaging theuppermost sheet of each of the stacks and carrying the same to a pointbeyond the position occupied by the stacks, and for releasing therespective sheets at positions to bring them into processionalrelationship, and means for moving at an angle to the movement of thefeeding means and adapted to successively engage the sheets constituti gthe procession and accumulate them into a group of superposed sheets.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means forsupporting and forwardly feeding a plurality of saeets to the intendedfeeding position, means for engaging and withdrawing the uppermostsheets of the respective columns and carrying them to a position, inprocessional relation, beyond the columns, means for insuring the reofthe respective sheets after they have been carried forward to suchposition, a plurality of slatted floors, one for each of the stacks,positioned to each receive a sheet when released, each of the floorsbeing configured to discharge sheets therefrom beneath the nextsucceedin floor, and movable means adapted to sweep through the slattedfloors to engage the sheets supported thereon and accumulate them intosuperposed relation.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means forsupporting and forwardly feeding a plurality of sheets to the intendedfeeding position, means for en gaging and withdrawing the uppermostsheets of the respective columns and carrying them to a position, inprocessional relation, beyond the columns, means for insuring therelease of the respective sheets after they have been carried forward tosuch position, a plurality of slatted floors, one for each of thestacks, positioned to receive sheets deposited thereon, an endlesstraveling member provided in part with a slatted surface and providedwith an accumulating member having prongs adapted to work through theslatted floors and sweep together the deposited shee into superposedrelation and deliver them as a group.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means forsupporting and forwardly feeding a plurality of sheets to the intendedfeeding position, means for engaging and withdrawing the uppermostsheets of the respective columns and carrying them to a position, inprocessional relation, beyond the columns, means for insuring therelease of the respective sheets after they have been carried forward tosuch position, a plurality of slatted floors, one for each of thestacks, and endless accumulating means provided with prongs operatingthrough the slatted floors and adapted to successively engage and sweepforward the deposited sheets to accumulate the same in superposedrelation.

12. In a machine of the cl ss described, the combination of means forsupporting and forwardly feeding a plurality of sheets to the intendedfeeding position, means for engaging and withdra ing the uppermostsheets of the respective columns and carrying them to a position, inprocessional relation, beyond the columns, means for insuring therelease of the respective sheets after they have been carried forward tosuch position, and receiving means in the form of a series of slattedfloors in aligned relation to one another and each being configured todivert a sheet oncoming from behind to a position beneath the floor, andaccumulating means provided with prongs operating through the slattedfloors and adapted to successively engage and sweep forward thedeposited sheets to accumulate the same in superposed relation.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means forsupporting and forwardly feeding a plurality of sheets to the intendedfeeding position, means for en gaging and withdrawing the uppermostsheets of the respective columns and carrying them to a position, inproeessional relation, beyond the columns, means for insuring therelease of the respective sheets after they have been carried forward tosuch posi tion, and receiving means in the form of a series of slattedfloors in aligned relation to one another and each being configured todivert a sheet oncoming from behind to a position beneath the floor, andaccumulating means in the form of an endless chain, provided with prongsoperating through the slatted floors and adapted to successively engageand sweep forward the deposited sheets to accumulate the same insuperposed relation.

14-. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means forsupporting and forwardly feeding a plurality of sheets in column form tothe intended feeding position, means for engaging and withdrawing theuppermost sheets of the respective columns and carrying them to aposition, in processional relation, beyond the columns, means forinsuring the release of the respective sheets after they have beencarried forward to such position, receiving means positioned to receiveand hold the respective sheets in processional relation, andaccumulating means movable in the line of the procession and adapted tosuccessively engage and sweep forward the deposited sheets to accumulatethe same in superposed relation.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means forsupporting and forwardly feeding a plurality of sheets in column form tothe intended feeding position,

means for engaging and withdrawing the uppermost sheets of therespective columns and carrying them to a position, in processionalrelation, beyond the columns, means for insuring the release of therespective sheets after they have been carried forward to such position,receiving means adapted to receive the respective sheets in processionalrelation, and accumulating means movable along the line of theprocession of sheets and provided with prongs adapted to successively engage and sweep forward the deposited sheets to accumulate the same insuperposed relation.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 29th day of October, 1930.

JAY H. ELWELL.

